Pants topper



F. F. LlTTELL PANTS TOPPER Sept. 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1946 s p 1950 F. F. LITTELL 2,521,297

PANTS TOPPER Filed May 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 5, 1950 ,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PANTS TOPPER Fred F. Littell, Pico, Calif.

Application May 25, 1946, Serial No. 672,280

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a pants topper or to a device for pressing the upper portion of a pair of pants.

It is now conventional practice to employ for the pressing of the upper portion of a pair of pants that has been cleaned a pants topper which is similar in construction and operation to the steam presser used to press the creases in the pants legs. In the use of such pants toppers the upper portion of the pair of pants is slipped onto the support of the pants topper and a steaming and pressing platen is lowered thereagainst. The use of such pants toppers is objectionable (1) because the operation is comparatively slow; (2) the operation tends to contribute to the shine on the fabric; and (3) where there are several thicknesses of fabric such as those thicknesses created by the presence of pockets and adjacent the fly these thicknesses are accentuated on the obverse side of the fabric for if there are any undesirable creases in the upper portion of the pair of pants the pants topper may tend to set these creases therein.

In pressing the upper portion of a pair of pants it is desirable to have the fabric smooth and uncreased except where the pants has incorporated therein pleats adjacent the waist-- band. The usual procedure is to firstpress the upper portion of the pants and to thereafter press a the leg portions forming the creases therein which terminate at or about the level of the 'crotch. This operation is performed on a pressing machine of adequate length and on which the pants are positioned after having been topped.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved pants topper which is so constructed that the top of a pair of pants may be pressed much more rapidly without contributing to the shine of the fabric and without causing the presence of several layers of fabric such as the pockets or fly or buttons to be accentuated through the fabrics to be noticeable on the obverse side thereof.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for topping pants consisting of a throat over which the belt or waistband of the pantsmay be positioned and from which extend spaced steam discharge pipes adapted to enter the upper portions of the pants legs. Steam is discharged. through these steam pipes to steam the fabric of the pants and thereafter the steam is turned off and a strong blast of air is discharged through the throat and into the pants holding the upper portion of the pants in afully distended position, causing the fabric to dry while in this inflated or distended condition. In this manner a pair of pants to be topped may be easily and quickly applied to the throat, steamed, and dried while in this inflated or extended condition with the result that no shine to the fabric is imparted thereto and the underlying pockets and the like do not tend to protrude through the fabric and become noticeable on its obverse side.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus having the above-mentioned characteristics which has an adjustable means that may be optionally employed to set and maintain pleats adjacent the belt or waistband in the event that the pants have such pleats.

thereon.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of the apparatus embodying the present invention, parts being broken away and illustrating a pair of pants in applied position thereon;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the pants not being illustrated;

Fig. 3 is a View in front elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l, and may be regarded as having been taken in the direction of the arrow 3 upon Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 4-4 upon Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken substantially upon the line 5-5 upon Fig. 3, illustrating the details of construction employed to set and maintain the pleats;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a partial view in vertical section taken substantially upon the line 'll upon Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a partial view in vertical section taken substantially upon the line 88 upon Fig. 7.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the improved pants topper comprises a suitable housing l0 within which there is a motor driven blower H driven by an electric motor E2 or the equivalent and which discharges air through a duct I3. The flow of air through the duct is controlled by means of a damper l4 and when the damper is open the air discharges at relatively high velocity and in considerable volume through a throat 15 in the side of the housing. This throat is preferably equipped with a flexible fabric skirt it. The damper i4 is preferably urged into a normal closed position such as by a tension sprin ll but may be opened by means of a treadle l8 mounted on the front of the housing and connected to the damper such as by a cable or chain i9. Thus by depressing the pedal or treadle ls'the damper-may beswung into open. position to allow air from the blower H to be discharged through the throat I 5 and on release of the pedal l8 the damper will be auto-- matically returned to closed position.

A pair of steam discharge pipes 28 and 21 project forwardly adjacent the throat l5 andnpref erably slightly diverge from each .o ther. These. steam discharge pipes are of suhicient length as to enter the legs of the average size of.a pair; of pants P. These steam discharge pipes consist, ofiperforatedpipes :22v Latsopposite sides oi. which, there are; preheatingdmperforate 'pipes: 23 .which'. serve itO; heat the stem discharge pipes and. prevent :the collection; ofcondensate therein..- The. steam discharge pipes aresuppliedwith. dry steam. through a conduit z-aleading from: asteamseparatorlt controlled by a Val-.Ve ZBthatis nor-v mallyurged into closed .pos-ition'ebutiwhich may. be opened by a pedal or treadle 2! connected-; thereto. as .by-acableon chainZlle The preheating. pipes 23 may. be suppliedpwithr steam. from. the. steam separator 25 .such. as bye-conduit 29.1.- The steam separator is supplied with steamfromany; suitable. source through piping ,or' tubing 39?, and. .the. stearn which is supplied; to the preheating pipes 23 may be returned to this source such; as bya returnpipe 3 I..

In theuseof theapparatus as :above described-,-. atpair of pants .that is to be topped-is slipped. over the steam discharge pipes ZO-and 2,! soethatr these pipesenter the legs of the pants. Thebelt or waistband ,-ofthe pants is .Jnoved 'rearwardly to. be positioned over the throator adjacent ,the throat and steam is released-throughthe. valve- 26 .by;depressing.thepedal 21.: As scones pants have been adequately steamedthe-upedal-ll.-isreleased .cutting off.- furt-her discharge 10f.- steam and.- the pedal. I 8 is. depressed openingthe damper it; and allowin a large volume of airj atrela tiyely. high' velocity to be diseharged int -the upper portion of the pants. This air; tends: to.. inflate the fabric. skirt i6: against the-interior of the pants --to-..prevent theescapeofzainout of the top thereof. The rvolume-arid .=Ve1OCity -0f air are such as to infiateordistendtheupper:

portion of. the pair. of-pants.. As thepants legs taper downwardly they form. relatively;restricted. I outlets. for the air so that the upper portion or pants tops will be maintained in -this distended;- condition. Asubstantiatmortion. orthefair is forced outwardlythrough the-fabricgin the top; oftheapants drying the. fabric thoroughly while in.this distended.,condition; Assoon as .the fab-.--- ric has become thoroughlydrythe pants topping operation.ispompletedand ,the pants may then .be pressedon,.theleg-pressing machine in the. conilentiona1.. manner to. set the creases inv the pants legs.

While I hayeemployed abag surroundingthe steam..disch.arge pipes 23 and} l, andv which. is connected. to. the throat l5 designed to hayethe. pants. Peslippedtthereoyer I find. that. .the. 1 use .of. suelinbagis;.unnecessary and sometin es .objectiona-ble that .it interfereswith the applicationiof thepants t0 themachineand detracts from the ability to fully inflate the top of the pants. Consequently in the preferred form of construction the bag is entirely eliminated and only the skirt l6 employed to prevent leakage between the throat and the top of the pants. By pressing the pants top in this manner no shine is imparted to the fabric and underlying objects such as pockets or buttons are not pressed through the fabric so as to be noticeable on the obversezside.

In or-der to set and press pleats inthe top of the pants an arcuate member 32 is mounted on the housing Hi. This arcuate member has a pair of. supports 33 laterally adjustable thereon. Each support preferably consists of a perforated plate mounted on a longitudinally extending arm 35%.recessed .onitshunderside to accommodate the upper portion of'th'e arcuate member and havingr'secured thereto an auxiliary arm 35. The

two arms are bolted together such as by bolts 36 terior. of-the -handle.39. Asglcip; 41;is-,mounted.

on the irodjstsand onturn'in the rodvbymeans; of the grip; the ,ratchet-Mtmayrbe adyanced;-into;: engagement with .the quadnant; 41 on releases therefrom. The. handle: 39 ;-has ;-a.ztubu1an zextene 1 sion dsinto WhiCh ;the stud 19*. 01a themresser:

member 38 ;s1idab1y extends; Thissstud is. ,urgedu downwardly by. means of; a: compression: spring;- 58.

If the pants P hasspleats,adjacentdts .belt. or

.; waistband the supports .33 .are laterally; adjustedo:

on. the. arcuate .-member- :32 so; as to be. positioned-l beneath the pleats. Thepants,arethenzsslippcds onto thesteam discharge-pipes!{Land 2| andjihce pleated,portions.areipositioned'overt the-zsupportss 33.; The pleats one'of which is indicated atL 01,11 Fig.;7, are-then manually set in the rffibtifilfilldlOD-ZI being-set the DIP-85581; members fi tareswung clowns. wardly from-the dotted-line position.-shown-in-Fig;; 5 1- to. the ..full I line position. and; pressed; firmly;- against the vto. f.-the-pleat.- The-compression spring 50 may be comp ressedslightlyduring-this. operation .and the grip flisthen-rotated tor-adv. Vance I the -ratchet-44 into engagement .with. the r teeth. 43 locking the .presser member. 38 .inzpressingg position over, the-pleatL... Thesteam is .thendis charged through ,the steam -,discharge gpipgs- 2.0 a: and .2] and. may Dass. .-through.,the'pleatedepone tion of the pants top by virtue of therperforations in. thesupports-33 sand; in the .presser. members 38.. Whenthefabric-is well zsteameduth'ezs e ml-z maybe-turned on by releasing -;the. pedal. 2'! :mod air vdischargedathrough the throat l 5 .--as previ-ar ously described: If. the. pants are-not provided; with pleats the presser membertfl :andsthe handle 39,.may be left inthe fully-open or dotted line-.3

position illustrated in Fig. 5;

From .the above .-descr.ibed .c onstructiom. it. will be appreciated-that "am improvedgrnethod: and ape paratus for topping pants is provided which: is: highly advantageous overthe pressing methods.

and machinesnow in general'use. I find that a single operator employing a machine of this character may top pants at a rate tosupply topped pants to two operators operating pressing machines for pressing the pants legs. v By using the pants toppers now in general use due to the number of different settings of the pants and the time required a Very efiicient pants topper is just capable of topping the pants that a single pantsleg presser may press. The construction is not only highly advantageous in the time and labor saved but is advantageous in that the pants will be smooth and any creases in the tops will be automatically removed dueto the fact that the steamed tops are dried while in an inflated or extended condition. Likewise, there are no marks or noticeable protuberances of underlying objects such as pockets or buttons.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of top pressing a pair of pants which consists of discharging steam into the interior of the pants near the top thereof and thereafter discharging air through the top of the pants toward the legs with suflicient volume and velocity to cause the air to hold the top of the pants distended while being dried.

2. The method of top pressing a pair of pants which consists of setting the pleats if any in the top of the pants by pressing them between perforated pleat holders, discharging steam into the top of the pants, and then discharging air through the top of the pants toward the legs with sufficient volume and velocity so as to fully distend the top and hold it distended while drying.

3. A pants topper comprising means providing a throat, a pair of spaced steam discharge pipes projecting forwardly from the throat adapted to have the pants legs of a pair of pants positioned thereon, means for discharging steam through the steam discharge pipes, and means for discharging air through the throat with sufficient velocity and Volume to distend the top of the pants.

4. A pants topper comprising means providing a throat, a pair of spaced steam discharge pipes projecting forwardly from the throat adapted to have the pants legs of a pair of pants positioned thereon, mean for discharging steam through the steam discharge pipes, means for discharging air through the throat with sufficient velocity and volume to distend the top of the pants, and a skirt around the throat adapted to be expanded by the air into engagement with the interior of the pants.

5. A pants topper comprising means providing a throat, a pair of spaced steam discharge pipes projecting forwardly from the throat adapted to have the pants legs of a pair of pants positioned thereon, means for discharging steam through the steam discharge pipes, means for discharging air through the throat with suflicient velocity and volume to distend the top of the pants, and perforated supports adjacent the throat extending forwardly therefrom, and cooperating pleatsetting members for clamping a set pleat thereagainst.

6. A pants topper comprising means providing a throat, a pair of spaced steam discharge pipes projecting forwardly from the throat adapted to have the pants legs of a pair of pants positioned thereon, means for discharging steam through the steam discharge pipes, means for discharging air through the throat with sufficient Velocity and volume to distend the top of the pants, and perforated supports adjacent the throat extending forwardly therefrom, and cooperating pleatsetting members for clamping a set pleat thereagainst, said supports and pleat-setting members being adjustable about the top of the throat.

7. The method of topping pants which consists of steaming the fabric of the pants and then discharging air through the pants from the waist band toward the ends of the pants legs with sufficient volume and velocity so that although the air may escape through the ends of the pants legs the fabric of the pants will be fully distended adjacent the waist band and dried by the air while in this condition.

8. The method of topping pants which consists of discharging steam into direct contact with the interior of the fabric of the pants adjacent the waist band and in the pants legs and thereafter discharging air through the pants from the waist band thereof toward the ends of the pants legs with sufficient volume and velocity so that although the air may escape from the ends of the pants legs the pants at least adjacent the waist band will be inflated and distended thereby and dried by the air while thus inflated.

9. A pants topper comprising means providing a throat over which the waist band of a pair of pants may be slipped, a pair of perforated steam pipes projecting from the throat arranged to extend into the pants legs of the pants, means for discharging steam through said steam pipes to be discharged thereby into direct contact with the interior of the pants, and means for discharging air through the throat with suficient volume and velocity to inflate the pants at least adjacent the waist band even though the air may escape through the ends of the pants legs.

10. A pants topper comprising means providing a throat over which the waist band of a pair of pants may be slipped, a pair of perforated steam pipes projecting from the throat arranged to extend into the pants legs of the pants, means for discharging steam through said steam pipes to be discharged thereby into direct contact with the interior of the pants, means for discharging air through the throat with suflicient volume and velocity to inflate the pants at least adjacent the waist hand even though the air may escape through the ends of the pants legs, and means for forming a seal against the escape of air between the throat and the interior of the pants adjacent the waist band.

11. A pants topper comprising means providing a throat over which the waist band of a pair of pants may be slipped, a pair of perforated steam ipes projecting from the throat arranged to extend into the pants legs of the pants, means for discharging steam through said steam pipes to be discharged thereby into direct contact with the interior of the pants, means for discharging air through the throat with sufficient volume and Velocity to inflate the pants at least adjacent the waist band even though the air may escape through the ends of the pants legs, supports adjacent the throat adapted to be positioned within the pants when the pants are applied to the throat, and means adapted to cooperate with said supports for pressing a pleat or pleats in the plants adjacent the waist band.

12. The method of topping pants which consists in gripping the pants at the waist portion thereof, discharging steam into direct contact 

